Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., of Madison, says it has paid $50 million for a majority interest in Shaser Bioscience Inc., a Boston firm that develops hair removal systems.

Spectrum said Monday the transaction gives it exclusive rights to Shaser's entire range of technology, in areas such as skin care and hair removal, in a market estimated at more than $50 billion annually. | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(1)

Fifteen new companies were launched Sunday night, the result of Startup Weekend Milwaukee 2012, a 54-hour marathon event where teams formed around initial ideas that participants presented on Friday.

It was the first Milwaukee-area Startup Weekend, a national event affiliated with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation that brings together people with different skills for a crash course in how to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch companies. | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Article(6)

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. plans to move its roasting facility from Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood to a Walker's Point location, where it also would open a second cafe.

Anodyne now has 10,000 square feet at 2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., where it has operated for over six years, owner Matthew McClutchy said Monday. He's planning to buy and renovate a 24,000-square-foot industrial building at 224 W. Bruce St. | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(5)

A development firm is hoping to build apartments on a site overlooking the Milwaukee River just downriver from Humboldt Ave.

HSI Properties LLC is planning the project for a 1-acre site at 1887 N. Water St., the former home of Pro Graphics Inc. That building, which has been vacant for several years, would be demolished and replaced by anywhere from roughly 80 to 100 apartments, said Ryan Schultz, HSI co-owner. | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(13)

Waterloo - John Burke, president of Trek Bicycle Corp., paused for a few moments when he was asked what it felt like when he made the decision to sever the company’s long relationship with Lance Armstrong, the now disgraced champion cyclist.

“I would say it was agonizing,” Burke said in an interview his office at Trek headquarters here. “Here’s someone who had been a great partner with Trek for a long time. You know, you’ve been hearing, ‘I’m clean. I’m clean.’ And then all of a sudden, ‘No, you’re not.’” | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(28)

In advance of the election, Michael White, the chairman and founder of Rite-Hite, a Milwaukee industrial equipment manufacturer, noted in an email to employees that they "should understand the personal consequences to them of having our tax rates increase dramatically if President Obama is re-elected, forcing taxpayers to fund President Obama's future deficits and social programs (including Obamacare), which require bigger government."

White said the company's retirement savings program contributions were based on after-tax profits. But he said Obama would increase taxes, which "will be sent into the abyss that is Washington, D.C. So, on top of the burden of having your personal taxes increase dramatically, which they will, your RSP contributions and healthy retirement are also at risk, all for the sake of maintaining an oversized government that borrows 42% of every dollar it spends." | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post(219)

An environmental cleanup of lakefront parcels in Oak Creek, where there are long-range plans for housing, commercial development and a new park, is to begin soon, according to an OakCreekNow.com article by reporter Michael Runyon. | Nov. 12, 2012»Read Full Blog Post